Skip to main content
Log in

Optimal hedging with currency forwards, calls, and calls on forwards for the competitive exporting firm facing exchange rate uncertainty

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We extend the well-known full hedge theorems of the hedging literature to random profits that are nonlinear in the random exchange rate. This arises when production flexibility is added to the standard model of the risk-averse exporting firm, where all production decisions have to be made before the exchange rate is known. Hence, hedging with currency derivatives that provide a linear payoff in the exchange rate can no longer provide a perfect hedge. Therefore forward selling is replaced by writing a certain call portfolio. Adding delayed revenue to the model induces the firm to sell calls on forwards. Because our generalized full hedge proposition is proved for random profits that might as well decrease in the exchange rate, the result is applicable to certain types of importing firms, too. — Given the absence of speculative motives on the part of the firm, it turns out that long-term investments in capital goods are chosen in risk-neutral manner.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adam-Müller, A. F. A. (1993): “Optimal Currency Hedging, Export, and Production in the Presence of Idiosyncratic Risk”.Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics 129: 197–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adler, M., and Dumas, B. (1983): “International Portfolio Choice and Corporate Finance: A Synthesis”.Journal of Finance 38: 925–984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benninga, S., Eldor, R., and Zilcha, I. (1985): “Optimal Hedging in Commodity and Currency Forward Markets”.Journal of International Money and Finance 4: 537–552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, F., and Scholes, M. (1973): “The Pricing of Options and Corporate Liabilities”.Journal of Political Economy 81: 637–654.

    Google Scholar 

  • Branson, W. H., and Henderson, D. W. (1985): “The Specification and Influence of Asset Markets”. InHandbook of International Economics, vol. 2, edited by R. W. Jones and P. B. Kenen. New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breeden, D. T., and Litzenberger, R. H. (1978): “Prices of State Contingent Claims Implicit in Option Prices”.Journal of Business 51: 621–651.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briys, E., Crouhy, M., and Schlesinger, H. (1993): “Optimal Hedging in Futures Market with Background Noise and Basis Risk”.European Economic Review 37: 949–960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock, W. A., and Malliaris, A. G. (1982):Stochastic Methods in Economics and Finance. New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broll, U., and Wahl, J. (1992a): “Exports Under Exchange Rate Uncertainty and Hedging Markets”.Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 148: 577–587.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1992b): “Risk Sharing Markets and International Trade”.Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik 210: 64–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, J. C., and Ross, S. A. (1976): “The Valuation of Options for Alternative Stochastic Processes”.Journal of Financial Economics 3: 145–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldor, R., and Zilcha, I. (1987): “Discriminating Monopoly, Forward Markets and International Trade”.International Economic Review 28: 459–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ethier, W. (1973): “International Trade and the Forward Exchange Market”.American Economic Review 63: 494–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feder, G., Just, R. E. and Schmitz, A. (1980): “Futures Markets and the Theory of the Firm Under Price Uncertainty”.Quarterly Journal of Economics 94: 317–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garman, M. B., and Kohlhagen, S. W. (1983): “Foreign Currency Option Values”.Journal of International Money and Finance 2: 231–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabbe, O. (1983): “The Pricing of Call and Put Options on Foreign Exchange”.Journal of International Money and Finance 2: 239–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakansson, N. (1979): “The Fantastic World of Finance: Progress and the Free Lunch”.Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis (Proceedings Issue) 14: 717–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, J. M., and Kreps, D. M. (1979): “Martingales and Arbitrage in Multiperiod Security Markets”.Journal of Economic Theory 20: 381–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartman, R. (1976): “Factor Demand with Output Price Uncertainty”.American Economic Review 66: 675–681.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holthausen, D. M. (1979): “Hedging and the Competitve Firm Under Price Uncertainty”.American Economic Review 69: 989–995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll, J. E. (1987):Theory of Financial Decision Making. Totowa: Rowman and Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kähler, J. (1991): “On the Modelling of Exchange-rate Dynamics by Stable Paretian Distributions.” Discussion Paper No. 448-91, University of Mannheim.

  • Moschini, G., and Lapan, H. (1992): “Hedging Price Risk with Options and Futures for the Competitive Firm with Production Flexibility”.International Economic Review 33: 607–618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, S. (1985):Arbitrage Pricing of Contingent Claims. Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nance, D. R., Smith, C. W., and Smithson, C. W. (1993): “On the Determinants of Corporate Hedging”.Journal of Finance 48: 267–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, S. A. (1976): “Options and Efficiency”.Quarterly Journal of Economics 90: 75–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scharrer, H. E., and Langer, C. (1988): “Wechselkursverschiebungen und Unternehmensreaktionen.”Wirtschaftsdienst Jg. 9/68: 470–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sondermann, D. (1987): “Currency Options: Hedging and Social Value”.European Economic Review 31: 246–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stulz, R. M. (1984): “Optimal Hedging Policies”.Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis 19: 127–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varian, H. (1987): “The Arbitrage Principle in Financial Economics”.Journal of Economic Perspectives 1: 55–72.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lehrbass, F.B. Optimal hedging with currency forwards, calls, and calls on forwards for the competitive exporting firm facing exchange rate uncertainty. Zeitschr. f. Nationalökonomie 59, 51–70 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01225932

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01225932

Keywords

Navigation